Suburban police cracking down on aggressive driving

Dozens of police departments in four Philadelphia-area counties have enlisted in the enforcement effort from July 6 through Aug. 26.

Motorists who like to run red lights, speed, tailgate, ignore school bus stops or text while driving can expect to meet up with some police officers the next time they venture into Philadelphia’s suburbs.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 58 municipal police departments in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties have enlisted in the Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project from July 6 through Aug. 26. State troopers are involved, too.

Buckle Up PA and AAA Mid-Atlantic are also partners in the annual summertime effort.

The participating agencies will employ a multitude of traffic enforcement methods to spot and cite aggressive drivers. Most of the tactics involve targeted deployment of officers. PennDOT will pay a portion of the costs with federal funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to PennDOT, nearly 600 “roadways have been targeted with additional enforcement and education” since the annual program began in 2006. In 2016, there were 1,475 motor vehicle crashes and 20 fatalities involving aggressive driving in the four suburban Philadelphia counties.

PennDOT advises motorists who encounter aggressive drivers on the road to get out of the way, don’t “challenge” them, remain relaxed, avoid eye contact, ignore rude gestures and stay out of the passing lane. Visit penndot.gov/safety for more information. ••